Nitrate Factory

Phistick · 05/01/2018, 11:40 AM

I've heard several times on here that using a canister filter will create a nitrate factory in the filter system. i was wondering if there is a way to mitigate this before it happens and if it does become a nitrate factory how do you deal with it?

kevin21 · 05/01/2018, 12:04 PM

I believe you can mitigate it before it happens by weekly cleanings before gunk and detritus builds up within the filter.

mcgyvr · 05/01/2018, 12:10 PM

Like anything else proper maintenance solves all the potential problems..

Uncle99 · 05/01/2018, 01:02 PM

I clean every week, then no issue

homer1475 · 05/01/2018, 01:04 PM

Like any mechanical filtration, it has the ABILITY to become a nitrate factory. Same can be said about filter socks, or floss. Only reason most don't advocate for them is they tend to get forgotten about.

They are perfectly fine to use as long as they get cleaned weekly or biweekly. It all depends on your system and how much detritus builds up in it. It's the breakdown of waste(detritus) that builds up in them(like any mechanical filtration method)that causes them to become nitrate factories.

PitViper · 05/01/2018, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by homer1475

Like any mechanical filtration, it has the ABILITY to become a nitrate factory. Same can be said about filter socks, or floss. Only reason most don't advocate for them is they tend to get forgotten about.

They are perfectly fine to use as long as they get cleaned weekly or biweekly. It all depends on your system and how much detritus builds up in it. It's the breakdown of waste(detritus) that builds up in them(like any mechanical filtration method)that causes them to become nitrate factories.

How do you guys clean your canister filters?

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Uncle99 · 05/01/2018, 04:05 PM

I just rinse mine in RODI water, monthly change the carbon.
Nothing elaborate, just keeping clean

Diana A · 05/01/2018, 04:41 PM

fluval fx6 - carbon and SeaChem Matrix only inside. No filter pads. When I do a water change biweekly, I fill a 5 gallon buck with some of the water. I use the water to rinse the Matrix.

PitViper · 05/01/2018, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diana A

fluval fx6 - carbon and SeaChem Matrix only inside. No filter pads. When I do a water change biweekly, I fill a 5 gallon buck with some of the water. I use the water to rinse the Matrix.

The FX6 has the rings of filter pads going around the outside of the inner baskets right? You say you don’t use them? And you clean everything with the water that you changed out from the tank?

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homer1475 · 05/01/2018, 06:13 PM

All you have to do is change any mechanical filtration(sponges, filter floss, etc), don't just rinse these but throw them away and put in new ones. Rinse the detritus out of the canister, rinse or change any media, then put back together and be done with it.

KISS method is always best.

PitViper · 05/01/2018, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by homer1475

All you have to do is change any mechanical filtration(sponges, filter floss, etc), don't just rinse these but throw them away and put in new ones. Rinse the detritus out of the canister, rinse or change any media, then put back together and be done with it.

KISS method is always best.

KISS? What’s that method?

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lzkamp · 05/01/2018, 07:19 PM

Keep it simple silly = kiss

PitViper · 05/02/2018, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lzkamp

Keep it simple silly = kiss

Lol nice.

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05/01/2018, 11:40 AM	#1
Phistick Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2018 Posts: 35	Nitrate Factory I've heard several times on here that using a canister filter will create a nitrate factory in the filter system. i was wondering if there is a way to mitigate this before it happens and if it does become a nitrate factory how do you deal with it?

05/01/2018, 12:04 PM	#2
kevin21 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Long Island, New York Posts: 2,208	I believe you can mitigate it before it happens by weekly cleanings before gunk and detritus builds up within the filter. __________________ Kevin Current Tank Info: Waterbox 50g, Tunze 9004 dc skimmer, Vortech mp10, Kessil ap700

05/01/2018, 12:10 PM	#3
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	Like anything else proper maintenance solves all the potential problems.. __________________ Who me?

05/01/2018, 01:04 PM	#5
homer1475 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 5,313	Like any mechanical filtration, it has the ABILITY to become a nitrate factory. Same can be said about filter socks, or floss. Only reason most don't advocate for them is they tend to get forgotten about. They are perfectly fine to use as long as they get cleaned weekly or biweekly. It all depends on your system and how much detritus builds up in it. It's the breakdown of waste(detritus) that builds up in them(like any mechanical filtration method)that causes them to become nitrate factories. __________________ 80G SCA Build: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2560256 Originally posted by der_wille_zur_macht: "He's just taking his lunch to work"

05/01/2018, 04:41 PM	#8
Diana A Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: New Jersey Posts: 682	fluval fx6 - carbon and SeaChem Matrix only inside. No filter pads. When I do a water change biweekly, I fill a 5 gallon buck with some of the water. I use the water to rinse the Matrix. __________________ diana

05/01/2018, 01:02 PM	#4
Uncle99 Crab Free Zone Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,906	I clean every week, then no issue

05/01/2018, 04:05 PM	#7
Uncle99 Crab Free Zone Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,906	I just rinse mine in RODI water, monthly change the carbon. Nothing elaborate, just keeping clean

05/01/2018, 06:13 PM	#10
homer1475 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 5,313	All you have to do is change any mechanical filtration(sponges, filter floss, etc), don't just rinse these but throw them away and put in new ones. Rinse the detritus out of the canister, rinse or change any media, then put back together and be done with it. KISS method is always best. __________________ 80G SCA Build: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2560256 Originally posted by der_wille_zur_macht: "He's just taking his lunch to work"

05/01/2018, 07:19 PM	#12
lzkamp Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Central Ohio Posts: 40	Keep it simple silly = kiss